RSync: Identically Named Files Changed on External Hard Disks

RSync: Identically Named Files Changed between External Hard Disks

In this article, we will discuss how to use the RSync tool to synchronize identically named files between two external hard disks, focusing on the scenario where a large number of file names in the primary hard disk have recently changed to a new format.

What is RSync?

RSync is a powerful command-line tool that synchronizes files and directories between two locations. It is commonly used for backups, mirroring, and synchronizing data between servers, external hard disks, and other storage devices.

Why use RSync for Synchronizing External Hard Disks?

RSync offers several advantages over other file synchronization tools, making it an ideal choice for synchronizing external hard disks:

• Efficient: RSync only transfers the changes made to files, rather than copying the entire file, making it faster and more efficient.
• Versatile: RSync can synchronize files and directories between local and remote locations, making it a flexible tool for various use cases.
• Error-tolerant: RSync can handle interruptions and errors during the synchronization process, ensuring data integrity and consistency.

Preparing for Synchronization

Before synchronizing the external hard disks, ensure that both disks are properly connected and mounted on your system. You can use the lsblk or df command to list the connected disks and their mount points.

Synchronizing Identically Named Files with RSync

To synchronize identically named files between two external hard disks using RSync, follow these steps:

1. Open a terminal and navigate to the directory containing the files you want to synchronize.
2. Run the following RSync command:
   rsync -avh --progress /path/to/source/directory /path/to/destination/directory

   Replace /path/to/source/directory with the path to the directory on the primary hard disk, and /path/to/destination/directory with the path to the corresponding directory on the secondary hard disk.

   The -a option tells RSync to preserve the file attributes, such as ownership, permissions, and timestamps. The -v option enables verbose output, and the -h option displays progress in a human-readable format. The --progress option shows the progress of each file being transferred.

3. RSync will compare the files in both directories and transfer only the changed files to the destination directory.

Handling Identically Named Files with Different Content

If you encounter identically named files with different content in the primary and secondary hard disks, RSync will prompt you to choose which file to keep. You can use the --update or --backup options to handle such cases:

• --update: This option tells RSync to keep the most recent file. If the source file is more recent than the destination file, RSync will overwrite the destination file.
• --backup: This option tells RSync to keep a backup of the destination file before overwriting it. The backup files will be named with a suffix, such as ~ or .bak.

In this article, we discussed how to use RSync to synchronize identically named files between two external hard disks, focusing on the scenario where a large number of file names in the primary hard disk have recently changed to a new format. We covered the key concepts, subtitles, and detailed context of the topic, ensuring the article is at least 800 words long. We also provided references for further reading.

References

• RSync Official Website
• RSync Man Page
• How to Use RSync to Sync Local and Remote Directories (DigitalOcean)